Flax Egg
Instructions
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Add flaxseed meal and water to a dish and stir. Let rest for 5 minutes to thicken. Add to recipes in place of 1 egg (as original recipe is written).
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It's not an exact 1:1 substitution in every recipe because it doesn't bind and stiffen during baking quite like an egg does. But I've found it to work incredibly well in pancakes, quick breads, brownies, muffins, cookies, and many other recipes.
Notes
*This is not my original recipe, but one I discovered on many vegan baking blogs and have since adapted for my own use.
*Nutrition information is a rough estimate.
Nutrition Per Serving (1 of 1 flax egg)
- Calories: 37
- Fat: 2.2g
- Carbohydrates: 2g
- Fiber: 1.9g
- Protein: 1.3g
Below are some of my recipes which use flax eggs:
Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins // Simple Vegan Brownies // 1-Bowl GF Banana Bread // Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookie Pancakes // 1-Bowl Vegan Banana Nut Muffins // Turmeric Chickpea Fritters // 1-Bowl Chocolate Chocolate Chip Muffins // Toasted Coconut Pancakes // Simple Vegan Stuffing // Refined-Sugar-Free Turtle Brownies // Peanut Butter Cup Pancakes // Coconut Oil Blueberry Scones // Sun-Dried Tomato & Basil Meatballs
Delicious recipe and so quick to make as well. thanks!
love it all your recipes!
This Thanksgiving I made all my sides with your recipes. They tasted great and I will continue to use
Minimalist baker.com from now on. Thanks!
Amazing!!!!!!! And healthy! Cheers. xx
Is it possible to use chia seeds instead, since I’m intolerant to flax? Thanks!
Yes! Same ratio in my experience. Again, not a 1:1 swap in every recipe so use your best discretion!
yes chia seeds will work too!
I made a vegan quiche last week and, while it was really tasty, I found it to lack the congealed texture of eggs. Could I add a flax egg to my recipe to fix this?
In place of eggs in a quiche, I have seen that people use chickpea flour, water etc. So here we are talking a different egg replacer than flax eggs. Google “vegan quiche chickpea flour” and I am sure you’ll get a nice selection of recipes!
Did it work?
Can a flax egg be used in other non-baking recipes like meatballs or burgers? Thanks!
Yes, it work well in meatballs and burgers :D
Thank you for this comment! Tried in my turkey meatloaf and it worked great!
What measurement of flax seeds do you use to get 1 tablespoon of ground flax? I like to grind my own.
Hi Ronnie. I used 1 tbsp of flaxseed and it made 2 tbsp ground flax.
Thank you so much. It’s can be use to replace 1 egg?
Yes, one small egg.
YOur recipe calls for a batch of flax seed eggs. Sinc I use eggs I am wondering what amount of eggs would to comparable? THanks.
1:1 substitution!
I guess it helps. I’ve used them in several recipes. But, not being smart here….seriously, if it doesn’t bind and stiffen, what does it do? Why do we use them and not just leave them out? In what way does the flax egg effect the end result? Thanks for answering.
It *does* bind and stiffen, just not exactly like an egg would. I’ll oftentimes add about a tablespoon of flaxseed meal to oatmeal, and it definitely thickens it, but it does not “gel” or “solidify” unless I let it sit or put leftover in the refrigerator or something.
By let it sit, do you mean by letting the flax egg mix you made sit or the finished product? For how long? I’m making brownies going for thick and chewy here and first time doing this flax egg recipe
For best results , the flax (or chia) need to “sit” in the liquid (this is true for any recipe using these seeds) for 6+ hrs.
Thank you!
Could I use it to make matzo balls that won’t fall apart?
Have you tried it and matzoh balls yet? I’d love to know!
I’ve made matzo balls with it and it works wonderfully! Make sure not to overcook them as they get a bit slimy on the outside. But otherwise, works like a charm and adds a delicious earthiness and body to the dish.
Hi,
Do you know how much flaxseed to use for an extra large egg? What might make the difference between a large and an extra large flaxseed egg?
I’d say triple the recipe for and extra large egg. :)
Can I use this to make a meringue ?
I don’t think so.
Use the liquid from canned chickpeas…nice stiff peaks!
Aquafaba is perfect for this purpose, just google aquafaba meringue, you’ll love it!!!
If you use the water from a can of chickpeas instead of the egg whites you get a lovely meringue.
Sure! Perfect for meringue!
Look into Chickpea liquid, aquafeba. I heard people make macaroons with aquafeba which is originally based off whipped egg whites.
I used this as a substitute for 1 egg in a Betty Crocker sugar Cookie mix, the turned out perfect and delicious! I made 1 slight change, I used 2 Tbsp water and 1/2 Tbsp oil.
Hi! I just wanted to share with you the AquaFaba (Chickpea water) trick
Vegan Meringue – Hits and Misses! On Facebook please!!
Keep creating amazing recipes
Love, love, love your website and your recipes!! My sensitivities clash with a few things, so brave ‘ole me has decided to start my own blog. It’s people like you that inspire me!! I’m linking this page to a berry avocado muffin recipe so that my followers will have a vegan option!! Blog on!! ;P
Ah, thanks Ashley! xo
How do you use chia seeds to make flax egg? Do you have to ground the chia first? And how long should you leave it before using? Thanks!
Nope! Leave them whole. Let it set for 5 minutes.
Phew! Glad I saw this as I was lurking through comments to see if chia could be used instead of flax – I was about to grind up my chia seed ! Thanks!!
Would be chia eggs, not flax eggs though… ?
Can this be used as a “binding” agent for breading? I have a vegan boyfriend and I like to cook more vegan for him and I would like to bread and fry some vegetables like my mom’s old chicken nugget recipe but I am having some trouble finding a vegan substitute for the egg.
Ps: I am in love with your site. Your vegan recipes and hacks are so great and much simpler than other sites I have seen. Thank you.
I’ve heard that cornstarch “eggs” work well for that purpose, but I’ve never tried flax meal.
I made a no-chicken nugget recipe and it was the first time I made a flax egg as a batter for the nuggets. This recipe used a bit of flour in their flax egg too. We used coconut flour. It made an amazing batter that the bread crumbs stuck to perfectly!
For the Batter:
1 cup unflavored soy or almond milk
1/4 cup ground flaxseed
2 tbsp. whole wheat flour
For the Coating:
1 cup cornmeal
1 cup panko breadcrumbs
1 tsp. paprika
1/2 tsp. salt
black pepper to taste
https://www.connoisseurusveg.com/vegan-chicken-nuggets/
Yes, have seen some use it on YouTube and used it myself on some soy meat medallions which I made nuggets from. Worked great!
I used it today to coat chicken nuggets before breading. Worked amazing. My kids loved it more than they usually love nuggets.
If you think about it, it would be weird to coat the chicken in its egg, wouldn’t it? Try cauliflower instead of chicken next time, it’s actually very delicious!
Blended cauliflower as a wash for chicken?
Nope! Cauliflower pieces coated like nuggets. It’s a pretty popular thing! Search for buffalo or BBQ cauliflower “wings.”
No, cauliflower wings. Google “cauliflower 65” for the Indian version of this (they have chicken 65 etc). The 65 in the name there are different explanations for, one being that the original resaurant where the dish was invented, was in some street #65, one was that the chef was 65 etc… I just love it, it is amazing how much it tastes like chicken! They always fry it though, I have just baked mine. Also made the batter less hot, if I used that much spice, I wouldn’t be able to eat it…
Awwsome tip! Iam planning on using this for eggless cupcakes. Is there anything I need to add or subtract that might affect my cupcake moistness levels… ?
I am so happy I discover your blog and certainly I ‘ll try some recipes. Have you ever tryed tangzhong bread you can skip milk eggs and butter so do I for a soft and fluffy bread or buns. Many greetings from Italy.
Hi, I enjoy using flax eggs and thought I would share this; if you make it ahead of time and let it sit in the fridge for a couple of hrs or over night it becomes congealed, and provides a better binder. I have used it with making doughnuts, pancakes and many others. :)
Thank you for the tip to let it sit overnight. I am planning to make veggie burgers with chickpeas, zucchini tots and need something to bind them, Will try this for sure
Have you tried freezing ..once it gets close to desired state ?
Freezing probably isn’t a good choice considering it’s just ground flax with water. It’s not that it needs to be cold, but that it needs time to set.
Just came upon your site and love the substitute for eggs. I am excited to try the Flax Egg in some recipes. Looking forward to information in your emails.
Can you sub chia seeds for flax seeds in this?
I absolutely love this website!! And how much would be two large flax eggs (for the brownies) ?
Can’t wait to try your flax egg recipe!
Made it today and loved it. The inside was a little moist but I figure when I make itagain I will leave in for fourth mins.
I didn’t know how easy flax eggs were to make. Thank you for showing me!
Thank you for this! I will post a link to this on my blog TheBeetMama.com for one of my recipes! Great ☺️
Should I add more baking time to my baked goods when using flax eggs? If so, about how much?
Not generally. It depends on the recipe though.
So easy, and yet so healthy. A win- win.
Thank you for all the yummy goodness you share.
Hi i was wondering can i make scrabble eggs. My daughter cant eat and she dont like the tofu eggs. We stop buying eggs in the house because of her. My husband cooked the tofu eggs, we like it but she didnt. Can we fry the flaxseed
I don’t think the flax liquid will scramble. It just has properties to help bind ingredients together similar to regular eggs.
No, you cannot make scrambled eggs with flax eggs. Try googling chickpea flour scramble though, saw someone making from that, just like they also use it instead of eggs in a quiche… ?
Hey, I’ve found that whizzing the flax up in a blender really helps to improve the egg-like consistency, it absorbs the air almost like whipping egg whites.
Thanks for your recipe and love the blog!
Your One Bowl carrot apple muffins calls for 1.5 flax eggs. Can you please tell me how many actual eggs I could use in this recipe?
1 egg and 1 egg white.
Can I use this to make scrambled eggs?
Unfortunately, no. See my vegan omelet for tips.
Ok. Thank you.
Can you do the same with Hemp seeds?
Wonderfully simple. Thanks a million!
Can I use a flax seed egg to bake bread with? I have a son who’s allergic to wheat, eggs and soy so finding a way to make decent bread has been so hard!!
I just made my whole wheat banana muffins with two flax eggs instead of regular eggs. They turned out great and seemed to rise even more than they normally do!!! Score!!
Is it okay to just ground the flax seeds myself or is it better to buy them pre-ground?
It’s actually better to buy them whole and grind them yourself. They tend to go rancid faster if you store them ground. Since I am lazy, I buy pre-ground and store them in the freezer.
What a lovely surprise as I stumbled upon your flax egg recipe tonite!! As a Vegan Dedicated to ANIMALS, I am always looking for recipes that cause NO HARM to our Animal Friends! Thank u! Kathy Little Brinson
What harm does eating an egg do to the chcken!? The chicken makes the egg, lays the egg and then the egg has nothing more to do with her! Not eating the chicken is one thing. Not eating the eggs she supplies doesn’t make sense.
Because many chickens are horribly mistreated in egg production is one reason. Another is that some of us simply don’t believe in using animals in any way for food or clothing. And there are other reasons as well.
Sandra,
Research factory farming for chickens. The chickens are kept in small cages. They get no natural sunlight, their breaks are torn off and no space to spread their wings, all of this torture simply for the mass production of eggs for humans to consume.
Another part of the egg industry is chick culling. Chick culling is the process of killing newly hatched poultry for which the industry has no use for. Specifically, it is the male chicks that have no use, therefore, the male chicks get thrown onto a conveyor belt and ground up alive.
That is the harm done to chicken’s by humans consuming eggs.
Does roasted flax work as well?
Finally decided to try this for a cookie recipe, since recently eggs have started to sit a bit heavy in my tummy. Worked out well! I will start using this for more stuff (pancakes next, I think)!
Can I use flax egg in chocolate chiffon cake, red velvet cake and various other cake recipes?
I haven’t tested those, but yes, it should work!
I veganized my traditional carrot cake recipe yesterday. This is my go to carrot cake recipe so I’ve made it many times, but usually I only sub up to half for eggs for flax eggs. The recipe calls for 4 eggs, so I used 4 flax eggs yesterday. Unfortunately it didn’t rise well and was too moist and a little gummy in the center despite baking it for a few minutes longer. Any tips?
What about using flax “egg” in meatloaf recipe?
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I actually have an egg substitute I got from whole foods that is made from chickpeas and chia seeds. Would that be okay to use instead of the flaxseed?
I tried the flax/egg substitution with almond flour pancakes-didn’t bind at all! Had to toss the batter, I wonder why it didn’t work?
Hm, not knowing what recipe you used, it’s hard to know what went wrong! Have you tried our Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookie Pancakes?
I let sit for the 5 minutes and it never combined at all!
Thanks for the flax egg. I am also experimenting with chia seeds for similar use including thickening cooked fruit and batters. Must rinse chia seeds though as I have found grit in most sources even when marked clean.
What if I accidentally leave the flax egg to set for longer than five minutes? Will it still work?
Yes! If it becomes dry, sprinkle in a little more water.
Just made these cuz I had 3 brown bananas that needed to be used but I was a little disappointed with the results :( The muffins came out a very dark brown… I used raw sugar instead of brown sugar, could that be why they are so dark? They also have a kind of bitter taste to them, but I cooked them for 20 minutes so they shouldn’t be burned…Help :(
Hi! Do you think this would work in a pecan pie? I appreciate your help, thanks!
I’m not sure but it’s worth a shot!
I am curious did it work in pecan pie?
Would love to know how it worked with your pie! I’ve been trying to make Chess pies using any egg replacement suggestions and not finding a winner yet ?.
It did! I thought it worked great and you couldn’t tell at all that it had flax in it
Thank you! I just tried a chocolate chess pie earlier using oil, water, and baking powder but it was soup in a pie crust ?. Second try I used the flax seed, but also added a few teaspoons of the commercial egg replacer hoping the combo would work. It looks like it worked. About to try another one.
Hooray! I’m glad it worked for you!
Later on I’ll try it with just the flax seed and not use the commercial egg replacer. Just trying to get my Christmas baking done so I’m going with what appeared to work this time.
Hi,
Do you have any experience with making psyllium eggs? Thanks!
I don’t! Sorry.
I made it, and it turned out great!
Hi, I used this because I realized too late in a recipe that I didn’t have eggs. It worked perfectly and I’m happy that I have another option. Thank you
I’m new to your blog. In other baking recipes sometimes you can replace an egg with applesauce, do you think this could work in this recipe?
Hi Vicki! You can use 1/4 cup of unsweetened applesauce in place of one egg in most baking recipes, so if you wanted to try that rather than making a flax egg, that is an option too!
Tasted horrible, worst omelette I’ve ever made.
Hi Atticus! Flax eggs are a great vegan substitute in baking but I can see why you didn’t particularly enjoy them in place of eggs for an omelette! In future, try this when you’re in a scramble!
How much flax meal should I use if the recipe (key lime pie) only calls for egg yolks? I assume same ratio, just less volume. Thanks!
Hi! I don’t think that flax eggs will work for key lime pie! That being said, here is a Vegan Key Lime Pie recipe for you to check out that does not require eggs!
Thanks for such explicit information. The additional nutritional facts are a plus.
I used this and it worked but I just want to make sure I’m doing it right.. when you measure the flax meal do you do it like flour or like brown sugar? Like do you pack it in or fluff it up?
is flax meal the same as flax seed…do I need to grind the seed to get the meal ??
Today, I used this to make some vegan yeasted crepes with whole wheat flour. Honestly, I thought it would work a lot better than it did. Batter was too runny and took hours to rise, though I followed instructions to a T – the only change being the egg substitute. The crepes simply fell apart on the skillet. I think I’ll be sticking with my usual vegan egg sub – half a mashed banana.
I have an egg allergy. I use 1 Tab. Ground flax mixed with 1/2 teaspoon baking powder and 3 Tab. Water. This equals 1 egg for baking.
For meatballs, meatloaf, just omit the baking powder!
my son bought flax seeds, can I grind those and use to make egg?
You sure can!
After about 5 minutes you would see a change in the texture. It would become gelatinous, sticky. Now the flax egg is ready to be used in your recipe as egg substitute.
I’ve read all over the internet that the substitution should be 1 Tbsp flax/3 Tbsp water. Your recipe works much better, as using that much water just makes everything watery. Thanks!
Would the flax egg works to substitute for 2 large eggs in toll house pie?
Pie crust
2 large eggs
1/2 c Flour
1/2 c granulated Sugar
1/2 c brown sugar
3/4 c Earth Balance
1 c Chocolate Chips
1 c chopped nuts
Hi Callie! Yes, that should work!
I used this recipe as an “egg wash” for some bagels. I let the mixture sit, stirring occasionally, for about 30 minutes while prepping other ingredients. It worked out very well and my toppings stuck to the bagels perfectly! Thanks.
Good to know. I use flax for egg replacement but would have not thought to do that. Thanks !!
Works great, thanks for the tip
I just made these but I’m disappointed. They didn’t rise like the ones in your photos and the color of mine look like cardboard. I followed the recipe exactly. Why??
Hi Maude! What recipe are you referring to? I think you may have commented on the wrong page!
Thanks for the recipe.
Hi, do you recommend using brown or golden flax seed? And this is the same thing as linseed isn’t it?
Thanks.
Hi Judi! Look for golden flax seeds instead of brown.The brown variety will be more likely to darken your baked goods due their brown hulls. Also, you got it! Linseed and flax seed are the same!
Can use this as egg white substitute for macarons?
We haven’t tried it with macarons, so I can’t say for sure. If you give it a try, report back on how it goes!
How would this work to replace egg whites? I have a muffin recipe that calls for 2 egg whites, not whole eggs
Hi everyone,
I was wondering: I made an extra flax egg that I won’t be using. Can I store it somehow?
Thank you :)
If my recipe calls for two large eggs (at least 114 grams of egg since one large is 57 grams), could I simply replace it with the same weight in flax egg? I know it’s not an exact 1:1 switch. Do you happen to have a ratio for a large egg?
I’m allergic to Flax seeds (a tiny amount will give me a 72 hour Migraine headache).
What can I use instead?
Hi Kirsten! You can use chia seeds instead!
I have a recipe for cupcakes I used to make before going vegan. do you think this be used to replace 3 eggs? would you recommend a different substitution?
Does it matter if I use coarse vs finely ground seeds to make the flax egg?
Hi! Abby it doesn’t matter!
Thank you!!
Would a flax egg work with cinnamon roll recipe? Or would it hinder the bread from rising?
Hi! We recommend this cinnamon roll recipe which doesn’t require and egg or a vegan egg!
What do you think a/b making up a bunch of flax eggs and storing them in the fridge for later use? Will they still be good?
Hi Sandra! We don’t recommend it, we suggest making them fresh each time!
I plan on making corn bread using a box mix. Trader Joe’s to be exact. Can I sub the large egg I normally use for the flax egg? Should I use more for a large egg? My granddaughter is Vegan and I want her to be able to eat it. Thanks in advance! Your blog has been very helpful.
what and how much portion/ in what ratio should i use this flax egg if i want to replace egg yolks and egg whites in separate quantities?
Can we use the flax mixture after keeping it in freeze..? Nd also how the pumpkin puree is made?? Do I have to boil the pumpkin first??
Easy Peasy! I got a coffee/herb grinder for christmas and only use it for grinding my fresh flax seeds as I need them. I can’t live without it! Thanks for another easy recipe, and for making our plant based life such an easy transition!
Hi, do you recommend hot or cold water for the flax egg? I have found that hot water helps make it more gelatinous which is what I need for some recipes.
Warm water works best!
What is shelf life if I make in bulk?
I wouldn’t recommend making flax eggs in bulk, and would suggest making it fresh each time you are baking. I always make my eggs at the start of a recipe. That way, I can get them in the fridge, and then work through the other steps while the flax eggs set. Hope this helps!
Will the flax egg work in my no-bake cookies recipe?
Hi Mirek! We’re not sure what your no-bake cookie recipe looks like, but this one doesn’t require a flax egg and may be of interest to you!
Came together perfectly first go! Thanks for going through all the pain to get it right ;)
Glad to hear it, Leigh!
Haha! My feed back was meant for another recipe, but still relevant here. BTW thank you for sharing your amazing recipes
Is it possible to use hemp seed?
We haven’t tried and can’t say for sure!
I so was hoping this would work! I attempted to use the flax egg to replace the eggs in my brownie mix. What I ended up with was a gloopy mess of oily hot brownie batter. Hopefully I can try again with a chia or aquafaba egg. This seems like a good thickener and binder but I’m not sure it really does the job as an egg does in recipes (of puffing up the batter).
Hi Dana, I wondered if you had tried adding sunflower lecithin to this to help binding?
Thanks as always,
Hi! We haven’t, but if you give it a try, report back!
Hi! I want to make your gluten free carrot cake, but not vegan. Can I replace the 3 flax eggs with real eggs? Can I do so in all recipes using flax eggs?
I have tried baking mainly to create kids treats such as banana break and brownies in my hope to avoid commercial treats. However, I develop epic fail banana breads and brownies… I refuse to use eggs! What can I do to bake goodies with the near texture of bake goods that usually include eggs ? Help!
Have a marvelous weekend!!!
Hi Maria! Flax eggs and chia eggs replicate the consistency and texture of an egg really well and can be used in any baking recipe that calls for eggs! That being said, you should be able to achieve the same if not very similar texture in your baked goods when using these substitutes.
Too easy! My go to!
As a brand new vegan, this recipe really helped me to get the basics down. Thanks so much! I’ve used it in place of egg in several baked goods recipes and it has always turned out great!
We are glad to hear it was helpful, Sage!
Hi,
I’m looking to replace the egg in a traditional perogie dough recipe, but I plan to freeze the perogies once they’re formed instead of boiling/cooking right away. Will the flax egg hold up if the dough hasn’t been cooked before it’s frozen?
Thanks!
Good question! We haven’t tried using flax eggs in perogies and can’t say for sure, but if you test it out, report back!
Hi there!
I’m wondering if it’s possible to prepare more than one flax egg in advance? Or even just how well one flax egg keeps in the fridge to be used the next day or later in the week? Let me know if you have any insight :)
Thank you!
I’m not sure as we generally make our flax eggs at the time of making the recipe! If you experiment with it, report back!
sounds great as a binding and stiffening agent but how would it react in a recipe such as the good old Yorkshire Pudding? does it also act as a raising agent? Or… does anyone have another suggestion…? So far I’ve experimented with… Baking powder and self raising flour, the water from chickpeas, both of the previous two together, #3 with a ratio of plain flour and self raising flour 2:1… Also, all of the above in different shape/size tins lol… even something that will give me around 2″ elevation would be awesome and gratefully appreciated :)
Hi Tim! It acts as a binder in recipes, the same way an egg would.
What’s the ratio for chia eggs? Thanks
Because naturally chickens eat their own eggs to replenish the nutrients it cost them to lay the egg. They need it more than we do.